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Mapping the Impacts of Food Aid: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

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  • Amy Margolies
  • John Hoddinott

Abstract

This paper provides an overview on the impacts of food aid. We consider its effects on consumption, nutrition, food markets and labour supply, as well as the extent to which it exacerbates or mitigates conflict. We also consider the comparative evidence on alternatives to food aid including evidence on cost, impact, relative risks and beneficiary preferences. We note that there are two large gaps in the extant literature: the comparative effects of food and cash assistance at the household level; and the causal links between food aid and conflict.

Suggested Citation

  • Amy Margolies & John Hoddinott, 2012. "Mapping the Impacts of Food Aid: Current Knowledge and Future Directions," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2012-034, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2012-034
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2012-034.pdf
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    2. Hidrobo, Melissa & Hoddinott, John & Peterman, Amber & Margolies, Amy & Moreira, Vanessa, 2014. "Cash, food, or vouchers? Evidence from a randomized experiment in northern Ecuador," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 144-156.
    3. John Hoddinott & Susanna Sandström & Joanna Upton, 2018. "The Impact of Cash and Food Transfers: Evidence from a Randomized Intervention in Niger," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 100(4), pages 1032-1049.
    4. Lentz, Erin C. & Barrett, Christopher B., 2013. "The economics and nutritional impacts of food assistance policies and programs," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 151-163.
    5. Deaton, Brady & Bezunrh, Mesfin, 2015. "Food Assistance: Economic Development and Food Security Impacts," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211333, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Alessandro De Matteis, 2014. "Preferred form of food assistance in remote resource-poor areas: the case of arid lands in Kenya," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(2), pages 167-195, June.
    7. Hoddinott, John, 2011. "Agriculture, health, and nutrition: Toward conceptualizing the linkages," 2020 conference briefs 2, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Sitko, Nicholas J. & Scognamillo, Antonio & Malevolti, Giulia, 2021. "Does receiving food aid influence the adoption of climate-adaptive agricultural practices? Evidence from Ethiopia and Malawi," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).

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